Theirs To Claim (Predatory Desires Book 1)

by McKinley, Diana

  “Coast is clear, Gabriel. You can stand down,” Lawton reassured him in a quiet murmur. It was his standard volume of speech. “I verified it with the infrared goggles before you or the others landed. We really are clear for now.”

  “Thanks,” Gabriel muttered, his eyes still surveying the small airfield. “Em, come on out, honey, but stay between me and Noah.” He issued his gentle command without looking back, confident that she would follow his directions. Lawton watched as Emily stepped down and smiled at him. Noah was only a breath away from her, his chest touching her back.

  “Hi, Lawton,” Emily said as she extended a hand towards him. He clasped it between his much larger palms without a delay and gave her a soft squeeze. But then her eyes surveyed the others and when she saw Ethan leaning against the sleek, black SUV her eyes widened in alarm.

  “Lawton, tell me who’s watching Tara if you and Ethan are here?” she asked, her words almost tripping over each other as her panic set in.

  “Now, Miss Emily, you know us better than that,” Lawton chuckled. “Tara is in the backseat of the same vehicle Ethan happens to be guarding. She is just fine, as are you. So breathe easy and know that we have you both covered.”

  “Oh, thank you.” Her words came out in a rush and Lawton released her so Noah could enfold her in his arms.

  “Let’s get you into a vehicle too and head home, baby,” Noah said softly, kissing her temple.

  She nodded and turned just as Gabriel reached behind him to touch her hand for a brief moment. He led them forward while Garrett and Kaden disembarked. Ross and Braden helped with the luggage transfer, and within ten minutes they were rolling towards Gabriel and Noah’s house.

  Emily had wanted to slide into the SUV that Tara occupied, but Gabriel denied the request. He placed her between Noah and himself again in the second vehicle, promising her that it would not be long before their reunion took place. She knew Gabriel must have a reason for his decision, so she honored it without comment. Instead, she sat holding their hands while she listened to Ross and Braden talk to them about the legal showdown that was poised to take place that day.

  Their boss had come through, and they had the necessary paperwork in hand now to take over as the lead on her case. Sheriff Strauss would now officially answer to them, all of the final decisions coming from Lawton and Gabriel. Noah and Gabe had little liking for shutting down a man they both had known all of their lives, and one whom they greatly respected, but even one such as he would not deter them from protecting what was theirs. No one would.

  Ross watched for any sign of a tail while Braden navigated the country roads leading to the guys’ house. He saw no one following them, and breathed a small sigh of relief that they’d made it this far without a hitch. So far, so good, he thought.

  They pulled into the winding drive behind the SUV Lawton was driving and soon the lights of the house were shining like a beacon, welcoming them home. Lawton and Ethan had purposefully left them all on, even the outdoor floodlights, hoping to leave no dark corners for someone to hide in and await their return.

  Emily felt her whole body relax when the familiar two-story brick house came into view. The stately white columns, which lined its wrap-around porch, gleamed in the lights. She had always teased them about the sheer size of the home they’d purchased for themselves, wondering why two guys who worked out of town so much would need such a substantial property.

  But they’d only told her they liked to have room to spread out. Now Emily wondered if they weren’t already thinking of the life and family they would create with her, and honestly preparing for the future, even back then.

  “Stay here between us, Emily, until we get the all-clear from the other guys,” said Gabriel.

  She laid her head against his arm and nodded. Emily watched as all the others save Ethan, Noah, and Gabriel left their seats and began a full sweep of the house and its surrounding grounds. Gabriel shifted and lifted his arm, pulling her flush against his side. He kissed her hair and closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath as he prayed that coming home was the right move and not a colossal mistake.

  Noah saw Garrett give him the signal that the coast was clear and he nodded in return, then opened his door. He smiled at Gabe and slid out, letting him be the one to hold on to Emily and get her inside. Noah could see that Gabriel was not accepting this trek home well at all, and he hoped Emily’s nearness would help to calm him down.

  Ethan and Lawton ushered Tara inside and on their heels, Gabriel protected Emily under the shelter of his body and Noah’s. As soon as Emily stepped inside the back door leading into the mudroom, Tara broke away from Lawton and launched herself at Emily. Her long, red curls bounced as she rushed forward and her green eyes were moist with unshed tears.

  She pulled Emily from Gabriel’s hold and enveloped her in a fierce hug of her own. Emily held on just as tightly, not willing to let go for fear of what she might see in Tara’s eyes. Would she understand and forgive her, Emily wondered?

  “Oh my word, girl! Am I glad to see you,” breathed Tara. She was trembling just as much as Emily, as she tried to calm herself enough to talk.

  “I’m sorry,” Emily said and held on a little tighter. “I just couldn’t… I didn’t want you in the middle of this, Tara. I’m so sorry, for everything.”

  “What?” Tara asked and pulled back, framing Emily’s face in her hands. “Now you listen to me. I totally get why you reacted like you did. I would have done the exact same thing, Emily. I would have and you know it. But I’m so glad to finally understand what’s been going on with you.”

  Emily nodded and cried with Tara. They embraced one another again, slowly rocking each other. The men stepped to the side and let them have their reunion uninterrupted. Tara finally opened her eyes and she met Noah’s gaze first. She loosened her hold on Emily and smiled up at him.

  “Did you guys finally figure it all out and put my girl out of her misery?” she asked with a knowing grin.

  “We did,” Noah chuckled.

  “About damn time,” Tara sighed, feigning exasperation.

  “You knew all along, didn’t you?” Emily asked and reached out to smooth Tara’s tears away.

  “Duh?” Tara played. Everyone around them chuckled over her comment. “It was as obvious as night and day. And I’m happy for you, Emily. All three of you. This has been a long time coming.”

  “Thank you, Tara,” Gabriel said quietly. Her immediate acceptance of their relationship put him more at ease. He thought her approval would further bolster Emily, and she still needed that as she moved back into the realm of social interactions after cutting herself off from them for so long.

  “You’re welcome,” Tara said and dipped her head just a bit. But then she narrowed her eyes at him and said, “But just so you two know, if you break her heart, I will personally get my granddaddy’s shotgun and unload on you both. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Gabriel chuckled. Tara could be like a little pit bull some days, and he was pleased she was firmly in Emily’s corner. Even if she was threatening to fill his ass full of lead.

  “That goes for you too over there, Thor,” Tara smirked at Noah.

  He burst out laughing, hearing the nickname she had labeled him with, and stepped forward to drape an arm over Emily’s shoulders. “Don’t hurt me, Tara. We’re marrying her, so she will be well looked after.”

  “What?!” she shouted and snagged Emily’s left hand. “My Lord, what a ring! Emily, you’re gonna need insurance for that thing,” she breathed. “It’s perfect for the three of you, isn’t it?”

  “Perfect in every way,” Emily smiled. “You and I have a lot to talk over though, and I want us to, Tara. I want to tell you everything that I’ve kept hidden for the last two months. Okay?”

  “We have all day to do that,” Tara said seriously, letting her banter fall away. “But you still look tired, Em. Why don’t we get comfortable, and then you and I can go through it all?”

  “Emily,” G
abriel called her attention to him as he stepped closer. “Garrett, Lawton, Braden, and I are going to head into town in a little while to handle things with Strauss. Noah, Ethan, Kaden, and Ross are going to stay here with you and Tara. So let’s get you settled before I have to leave you, okay?”

  “All right,” she nodded. She touched Tara’s shoulder and then let Noah turn her away from the mudroom and head off down the hallway, away from the others. Gabriel moved alongside them, and the three headed upstairs to Noah’s room.

  The home featured five bedrooms, and had a master both upstairs and down. Gabriel had always claimed the one on the first floor, while Noah’s room was on the second floor. Once they’d entered it, Gabriel closed the door, sealing them away briefly from the others in the house. Emily paused and waited to see what they might say.

  But Gabriel didn’t utter a word. He just bent and captured her lips with his. He cupped her face and held Emily to him, but that quickly proved not enough. His hands began to roam over her body and he started divesting her of her clothes in record time.

  “Need you, Em,” he muttered as he drug her shirt over her head. “I’m sorry, but this will be quick.”

  “It’s okay, Gabriel,” she said in a soothing tone. “I’m here for you.”

  He growled and began to back her towards Noah’s bed, stripping his jeans and briefs off as she fell on the mattress. He grabbed the back of his shirt and whipped it over his head, then settled himself between her legs. Gabriel’s lips locked with Emily’s again as his fingers delved below, testing her readiness to take him.

  He found her wet and just as hot as he felt all over. His skin was alive and he was about to crawl out of it at the thought of being separated from her. Gabe wasted no more time plunging inside her, embedding himself to the hilt as he swallowed her cry. He held her tightly to him as he began to move within her body in earnest.

  He felt Emily’s hands digging into his shoulders, but her legs lifted to wrap around his waist and she moved into each of his forceful thrusts. Gabriel threaded his hands into her hair and kept Emily’s head in place so he could plunder her mouth as he was her pussy. His tongue mated with hers, just as his cock touched the deepest recesses of her body.

  When he felt her arch into one particularly hard thrust, Gabriel pulled from the tight clasp of her sheath and flipped Emily over onto her belly. He rammed back inside, blanketing her body with his and keeping her in place as he took her over and over.

  Emily pressed her lips together trying to stifle her sounds, but she was fast losing the war as she whimpered through the powerful way in which Gabriel was commanding her body.

  “Help her, Noah,” Gabe urged him, knowing she was close to screaming her release.

  Noah had not joined them, but at Gabriel’s prompting he slid onto the bed. Noah stretched out and fused his lips to Emily’s, delving deeply just as Gabriel had, and swallowed up her sounds. He cupped her face with his palms and held her as her whole body absorbed the fire burning its way through Gabe at the moment.

  Gabriel sat up on his knees and wrapped his hands around her waist. He began to pull Emily back onto his cock as he thrust forward, tilting her hips in his grasp and hitting that perfect spot guaranteed to make them both come unglued. He felt the rippling of her pussy just as her muffled cry sounded against Noah’s mouth, and knew she was finding release. Gabriel threw back his head and let his own orgasm race from his shaft until he was filling her with every ounce of come he had.

  It took his mind a minute to catch up with his body, but finally his thrusts slowed to a stop. He kept his cock firmly inside her, and lowered himself down until his chest rested against Emily’s back. Noah smoothed his hands over her face and pulled away as Gabriel placed his cheek alongside hers. Gabe sighed and closed his eyes, feeling his heart racing still.

  “Are you okay?” he whispered.

  “Hmmm,” she smiled. “More than okay.”

  “Me too, honey,” he murmured. “Thank you for indulging me.”

  “That wasn’t me indulging you, Gabriel,” she said lazily. “I wanted you just as much as you needed me. I have no complaints. Feel free to do that again, as often as you like, because that was hot as hell.”

  “Oh, really?” he growled and nipped her jaw with his teeth lightly. “Then I’ll remember you don’t mind it a little faster and rougher at times.”

  “You weren’t rough, Gabriel. You were perfect, in every way.”

  “So were you, Emily. I have to go now,” he said, regret heavy in his voice.

  “Stay close to the others and come back to me,” she whispered. Emily angled her head so she could kiss him and Gabriel was happy to meet her half way. “I love you,” she murmured.

  “And I love you.”

  It was the hardest thing in the world to do, but he lifted his head from hers. Gabriel kissed Emily’s neck before he pulled completely away from her, his dick protesting the loss of her warmth enveloping it. Noah whispered that he’d take care of her while Gabe cleaned up in the bathroom. Gabriel nodded as Noah knelt on the bed, a washcloth already in hand.

  CHAPTER 29

  Emily padded downstairs behind Noah, pulling her long, blonde hair up into a ponytail as she went along. After her lightning fast romp with Gabriel, she was relaxed and happy. Add to that, the fact that Noah had kissed her and given her another orgasm with his fingers after he’d helped her clean up, and she was feeling positively mellow. Emily sighed as she followed him into the kitchen and sniffed the air appreciatively. Something good was already cooking.

  Noah reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers, then he drew her around in front of him. He pulled her back against his front, snuggling Emily into his body where they stood next to the island. Tara turned from the cooktop and smiled at them, happy with what her eyes beheld.

  “Whatever you’re cooking smells divine,” Emily sighed again. “I’m famished.”

  “Oh, I just bet you are,” Tara retorted, and glanced up at Noah.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” he chuckled.

  “Like what?” she shrugged and then moved over to check on the biscuits she had cooking in the oven.

  Kaden and Ross chuckled as they strode into the room after hearing Tara’s comments. Ethan was stirring something at the island, and he asked Tara to approve it before he handed the bowl over to her.

  “Are you seriously cooking, man?” Ross asked in disbelief. He headed for the coffee machine, selecting a pod of his favorite flavor while he waited for Ethan’s reply.

  Ethan wasn’t biting though, so he gave Ross a disgruntled smirk as Tara leaned in to check his work. She patted his broad back and smiled her appreciation.

  “Thank you, Ethan. Don’t listen to him. Men who don’t cook, or at least try to help, rarely get a woman’s attention. Ross is just jealous that I’m ignoring his lazy butt.”

  “Tara,” Emily breathed, her eyes widening as she stared at her friend.

  “It’s the truth. And the truth hurts,” she retorted.

  “That it does, Miss Tara,” Ross agreed with a playful smile.

  “You want some coffee, baby?” Noah asked softly.

  “I’d love some. Thank you,” Emily nodded appreciatively.

  “Sit down and I’ll make us both a cup.” Noah kissed her temple and lightly patted her ass before he released Emily from his hold. She blushed a bit that he’d done so in front of the others, but she took her place at the island on a raised chair and tried to smile through it.

  “So, I have to know…” Tara began. “What in the hell did Heather and Becca think they were doing, showing up here with food for your men?”

  “Tara, I swear,” Emily chuckled half-heartedly, “one of these days, your mouth is going to get you in trouble. They weren’t officially my men until a few days ago,” she said and made quotes in the air with her fingers when she uttered the two words. “So as far as those two brazen women were concerned, Gabe and Noah were available and free to date whomever
they chose.”

  “You are too damn nice,” Tara fussed and waved a spatula at Emily as she began to cook the eggs Ethan had whisked for her. “They know as well as anybody that there’s always been a special bond between you three. So if you’re not going to get indignant about it, I will for you.”

  “Let it go,” Emily chuckled. She thanked Noah for the mug he handed her and smiled as he slid onto the seat to her left. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then draped an arm behind her across the top of her chair.

  “Well, I have to admit that I’m with Tara on this one, Em,” Noah said, as if he were apologizing. “They had no reason to show up here, unannounced, as they did. And I, for one, want to know why they thought we were suddenly welcoming such attention. We never have before.”

  “That Heather was a pushy thing,” Ethan said as he grimaced. “Way too much make-up. Look liked she painted up for battle or something.”

  “See, just another reason I like you, Ethan.” Tara nodded at him before turning her eyes back to the cooktop. “You saw through all that superficial bullshit she was selling.”

  Ethan grinned at Noah and Noah just shook his head at them both.

  “I think someone tipped them off that Emily was gone for a while, and the sharks started circling,” Tara added, happy to share her opinion with them all. “Most guys sense when another has staked a claim, and what better way for Emily’s stalker to remove the two who have always been closest to her, than to send other women to interfere. It just further isolates her.”

  “I know,” Emily sighed and propped her elbows on the granite island. She rested her forehead on the inside of her palms and closed her eyes. “Someone wanted Noah and Gabriel happily distracted and I’m sure it was the same certain someone who thinks he and I would make a great couple. Either that, or the girls were supposed to size Lawton and Ethan up, then report back so the stalker knew just how much muscle had been sent in to help shut him or her down.”